The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-07-16

g1ftered beneath the sun like sire ch of
elOih~of-gold studded with rainbow gems.
His voice came between her and tile
sound OF the sweet, low breeLe-the breeze
which was blowing balm across the far
away bloomy hills.
As she recalled all he had been to her, ali
he might never be again, her mood altered
''If 1t is Cora who has indeed changed
him, If she has indeed wiifuliy come be-
tween us, shall hate her with an syeng-
Ing hate. could watch the sea close over
her; could listen to her last shrek, with
out feeling one throb Of pity or without
lifting hand to saYe her" Bessie thought,
her dimpled fingers cliuched, her luminous
eyes full of smoldering fame.
The hours elapsed, aud Bessie, too mis-
cradle for exertion or to note the flying
moments, was still sitting there among the
rose vines when Mrs. Eliot returned.
''Here is the pink parasol, Bessie" said
her mother, placing the coveted article
across her lap. SIT was the last one of the
lot too; there is not another of its descrip-
tion to be had ti,is side of the city,"
Bessie took 1t up listlessly and opened it.
As she dtd so, there was peculiarly soft
sweep of drapery along the rose-trellsed
yeranda, and peculiarly soft voice lisped
forth yoluble admiration.
"Oh, how too exquisitely lovely! What
too utterly delicious shade of pink And
those sweet little butterflies and cherry
blossoms are really hand-pairtedl My dear
ford parasol just like it? My darling Bes-
sic, do please lend 1t to me just this once !
Mr.. Vivian has just begged me to walk
with him down the beach. Oh, thanks;
how sweetly kind you always arer'
Miss Cora Mortimer was possibly apos
trophizing, thanks TO her own audscity, for
she certainly had not yet been accorded
permission TO borrow tho parasol. With
soft, subtle, sinuous movement, peculiarly
her own, she had simply drawn it from
Bessie's surprised and listless hands.
Miss Mortimer was rather attractive
girl, and one OF stylish appearance.
She had trinity nodded figure with
certain slow, serpentine grace in every pose
and motion. She was always prettily
dressed, her scant, yellowIsn red hair was
always prettily arranged.
Her features were delicately cut, there
was a pathetic and perpetual smile upon
the thin, crimson lips, and beneath the
short, colorless lashes her yellowish eyes
we're forever blinking like those of a kitten
in the sun.
"Bessie will he only too glad to let you
use the parasol, dear" SAID Mrs. Eliot,
speaking for Bessie, who had not uttered a
syllable.
"And Mr.. Vivian shall bring you nice
bunch of those splendid wild coumbines
which are swinging just the sweetest bells
all down the ledges of the beach," Miss
Mortimer lisped effusiYely as she tripped
away.
.'Isn't such exquisite condescension just
too previously excruciating now," Master
Jacky commented, with an indescribable
accent and expression of mimicry, as the
young lady disappeared down the path to-
ward the beach.
But still Bessie was silent. Her lovely
face was white as death, but the flashing
eyes and quivering nostrils bespoke the
| tempest suddenly aroused in heI young
breast.
Beautiful Bessie will never recall the
passion and pain of that hour and the aw-
full hours which came after without shud-
der.
Her bemumbing misery had changed to
feYerish disqniet. The breath of the roses
slckened her; she felt sitting, choking, in
the peaceful calm about the pleasant old
house.
And presently in that spirit of unrest,
she, too, wandered toward the sea-beach.
As she walked slowly onward, her eyes
fixed on the great swells as they came
tumbling IN through the last gold-and-ruby
splendor of the sunset, quick footsteps
startled her, and she turned to look
straight into the pale, changed face of
Walter Vivian.
Her look Of wonder puzzled him.
SIS 1t so astonishing to meet me here?'
he queried, after his coldly polite salute.
II can see startled you"
II had supposed you were walking with
Miss Mortimer" she replied simply.
"l have not had that homer; in fact,
have not met Miss Mortimer in several
days" he returned, with reserved cour-
tesy.
And so he bowed, stepped aside To let
her pass, and the next second she was again
alone.
''Fm afraid Jacky was right about Cora's
ability TO invent fairy tales. Walter never
begged her to walk on the beach with him
that's certain" Bessie thought with
scornful wonder. "But it's equally certain
that even II he doesn't care for her at all
he will never be the same to me again. My
love is mine no more; must be desolate
and wretched till die," she sighed.
But il Bessie had happened to look back
Al that moment, she could have seen her
loyer standing motionless, watching her
with eyes full of doubt and trouble.
SIT is hard to believe that Bessie Eliot
was but trining with such u love as mine, -
lie VAS thinking, that while deemed her
heart responsive to my own, she was the
sweetheart Of another. And l cannot SUP
pose any man without encouragement
would pen such idolatrous letters. Nc
doubt ought to be grateful to Miss Nor
timer for informing me of this prior at
tachment, but cannot be, My Bessie, my
little love, is lost to NE forever"
And while he stood there yearning tC
follow her-to clasp her IN his arms anC
implOre her TO assure him it was a miser
able nightmare dream, that she was true
} and his alone, Bessie was recedlng sorrow